Sunday, March 20, 2011
Topic Discussion C
In the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, the main character Mariam is the one who suffers traumatic experiences from the past. Mariam's constant redemption of trying to fit in with her new life, trying to be acquainted with her surroundings, such as getting married at the age of 15. Mariam constantly reflects back on her mother when she told her "I'll die if you go. The jinn will come, and I'll have one of my fits... Please stay. I'll die if you go." (pg. 27) The flashbacks of this moment, Mariam would have to live on with this guilt for life. She didn't believe her mother. This one of the few past events that Mariam holds on, after 18 years of marriage to her abusive husband Rasheed. She believes that with all the events that happened in the past, was her doing. In result, she couldn't conceive after 7 cycles. But then after a girl named Laila came into her life, it was very surprising that the past events soon became to fade, Laila and her baby girl were the reason that she had a move on. It's the similarities that these two girls have in common, in which they have suffered tragedies. Also with the same abusive husband. In the third part of the novel, Mariam realizes an opportunity to redeem herself. Not just for herself, but more for her friend Laila. She wins an eternal battle against her husband, in which he was trying to beat Laila to death. "For me it ends here, There's nothing more I want...You and your children have made me so happy. It's alright, Laila Jo. Don't be sad." This was a small closure that she gave to Laila after killing Rasheed. This shows that she had moved, she's not the girl whom was beaten, and not acting upon defense. Khaled Hosseini's theme wraps around the oppressed view. Even during the climax of the novel.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Topic Discussion A
In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini, Hosseini uses literary elements to explore the issues of domestic violence. Most specifically, symbolism and imagery.Hosseini creates a psychological yet physical violence point of view coming from Rasheed. By doing so, there are many moments in the novel where if it's either Mariam or Laila that that had experienced these two types of domestic abuse.
In the psychological abuse preference, Mariam had to endure so many critical and drastic situations in her life. "You may not get an opportunity this good... Actually your father has already given Rasheed his answer." (pg. 48-49) This shows the endurance that young Mariam has to bear with the emotional state that she was in, after just a couple of days of losing her mother. The psychological abuse that she suffered from her father whom she used to grew up to respect and cared for. The audience are able to use imagery to see within Mariam's perspective how cruel and cynical a father would do to his own flesh and blood, to see him send his fifteen year old daughter away to a man that's probably old enough to be his brother perhaps. This shows one of the few abuse Mariam had suffered. But also she had to face the wrath of her husband as well. " He shook the rice angrily from his fingers and pushed the plate away, spilling sauce and rice on the sofrah... then out of the house, and slamming the door on his way out." (pg.103) Rasheed's actions caused psychological abuse toward Mariam. After the miscarriage that happened in 7 consecutive tries, there were constant verbal abuse of everything that Mariam does. In this particular situation, psychological abuse turns into physical. " He snatched her hand, opened it, and dropped a handful of pebbles into it... Put these in your mouth... Now chew." There was a misconception that Mariam believed even for a second that her husband was so down to earth as she described briefly at the beginning of their marriage. After this incident there isn't anymore doubt.
In the physical preference of the domestic abuse, both Laila and Mariam are victims. After Laila's parents past away, Rasheed and Mariam took her in as a guest. Soon after Rasheed married Laila, due to the fact Mariam doesn't satisfy his personal needs. In which conceiving plays a factor as well. Mariam starts to see how he treats Laila and essentially she starts to adapt the attitude that her mother once possessed against her father and his wives. This explores the issues of physical domestic violence because it shows how Rasheed favors one but not the other, in result of the matter Mariam doesn't benefit in the outcome, because with all the wrong doings that take place. The first wife ends up taking the blame.
By using literary devices, Hosseni conveyed his meaning to the audience that domestic violence has more of a meaning when a victim tells the story. Like Mariam and Laila, they both came from two different perspectives, both enduring physical and psychological abuse from the same man. The reader can establish malfeasance, and the pain that these two women had to endure with the help of imagery and symbolism. Khaled Hosseini's construction of devices shows that domestic violence is wrong. Whether if it's psychologically or physically.
In the psychological abuse preference, Mariam had to endure so many critical and drastic situations in her life. "You may not get an opportunity this good... Actually your father has already given Rasheed his answer." (pg. 48-49) This shows the endurance that young Mariam has to bear with the emotional state that she was in, after just a couple of days of losing her mother. The psychological abuse that she suffered from her father whom she used to grew up to respect and cared for. The audience are able to use imagery to see within Mariam's perspective how cruel and cynical a father would do to his own flesh and blood, to see him send his fifteen year old daughter away to a man that's probably old enough to be his brother perhaps. This shows one of the few abuse Mariam had suffered. But also she had to face the wrath of her husband as well. " He shook the rice angrily from his fingers and pushed the plate away, spilling sauce and rice on the sofrah... then out of the house, and slamming the door on his way out." (pg.103) Rasheed's actions caused psychological abuse toward Mariam. After the miscarriage that happened in 7 consecutive tries, there were constant verbal abuse of everything that Mariam does. In this particular situation, psychological abuse turns into physical. " He snatched her hand, opened it, and dropped a handful of pebbles into it... Put these in your mouth... Now chew." There was a misconception that Mariam believed even for a second that her husband was so down to earth as she described briefly at the beginning of their marriage. After this incident there isn't anymore doubt.
In the physical preference of the domestic abuse, both Laila and Mariam are victims. After Laila's parents past away, Rasheed and Mariam took her in as a guest. Soon after Rasheed married Laila, due to the fact Mariam doesn't satisfy his personal needs. In which conceiving plays a factor as well. Mariam starts to see how he treats Laila and essentially she starts to adapt the attitude that her mother once possessed against her father and his wives. This explores the issues of physical domestic violence because it shows how Rasheed favors one but not the other, in result of the matter Mariam doesn't benefit in the outcome, because with all the wrong doings that take place. The first wife ends up taking the blame.
By using literary devices, Hosseni conveyed his meaning to the audience that domestic violence has more of a meaning when a victim tells the story. Like Mariam and Laila, they both came from two different perspectives, both enduring physical and psychological abuse from the same man. The reader can establish malfeasance, and the pain that these two women had to endure with the help of imagery and symbolism. Khaled Hosseini's construction of devices shows that domestic violence is wrong. Whether if it's psychologically or physically.
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